Method and apparatus for binding a manuscript



Oct. 17, 1967 G. J. KONKEL 3,347,565

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BINDING A MANUSCRIPT Filed Oct. 23, 1965\vwsvnoa Gmsam J. KouKi-LL.

p001 uzmwu An'oanev I Patented Oct. 17, 1967 3,347,565 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR BINDING A MANUSCRIPT Gilbert J. Konkel, 1706 S. LaytonBlvd., lvlilwaukee, Wis. 53215 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,666Claims. (Cl. 281-21) This invention relates to an improved method andapparatus for binding a manuscript.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved manuscriptbinding arrangement which is simple and easy to assemble, requires onlya few relatively inexpensive parts, and produces a manuscript having apleasing appearance.

The objects of this invention are attained by first providing a bindingstrip of special design having first, second, third and fourth sectionsrunning the length thereof. The fourth section of said binding strip isprovided with an adhesive material on both faces thereof, such adhesivefaces being covered by protective strips.

The first step is to fasten the first section of the binding strip tothe manuscript along the margin of one face thereof. The second step isto remove the protective strip from one face of the fourth section. Thebinding strip is then folded back around the edge of the manuscript sothat the second section thereof will overlie the first section thereof.The exposed adhesive face of said fourth section is then pressed intocontact with the margin of the opposite face of the manuscript. Theprotective strip is then removed from the other face of the fourthsection. The final step is the attachment of a cover memher by pressingthe cover member into contact with the exposed other face of the fourthsection of the binding stri O ther objects and advantages will bepointed out in, or be apparent from, the description and claims, as willobvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the parts prior to the first step intheir assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the partsafter the first assembly step has been performed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view with parts broken away showing thespecially designed binding strip used in this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are end views similar to FIG. 5 showing the parts asthey are manipulated through the sequential steps performed inassembling a finished manuscript; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the finished manuscript with the coverthereof folded to its open position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a manuscript 10 ofthe type particularly adapted for use in the practice of this inventionsuch as an accountants report, legal brief, etc. While this invention isnot limited to assembling manuscripts of this type, it has particularusefulness in binding manuscripts having so-called soft covers and alimited number of pages.

A binding strip member 12 specially designed for use in the method andapparatus of this invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 and iscomprised of sections numbered 14, 16, 18 and 20 having score marks 22therebetween to facilitate folding of the sections. In the preferredembodiment, the entire strip 12 is made from a strong paper material,with section 20 thereof provided with a pressure sensitive adhesivematerial on both faces 24 and 26 thereof. Adhesive faces 24, 26 areprotected by covering strips 28 which serve to cover and protect theadhesive portion up to the point when strip member 12 is assembled onthe manuscript.

The invention can best be described by proceeding with a detaileddescription of the various steps employed in producing a finishedmanuscript like that shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The first step in theassembly of the parts is shown in FIG. 2 wherein the strip member 12 isplaced on the front page of the unbound manuscript 10 and fastenedthereto along the left margin of the manuscript by stapling or othersuitable method with the staples 30 passing through section 14 of thestrip and also through the body of the manuscript itself. Staples 30thus serve both to attach the strip to the manuscript and to bind thevarious pages of the manuscript together along the left margin thereof.While it is preferable that the attachment of the strip be made bystapling it should be understood that other means of attachment such asadhesive, riveting, etc. may be employed.

After the strip member 12 has been attached as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5,the next step is to remove cover strip 28 from face 24 of section 20 andthen fold the strip back and around the exposed left hand edge 32 of themanuscript in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 tothe position shown in FIG. 8 wherein section 18 of the strip liesadjacent the left hand edge 32 of the manuscript and the section 20 ofthe strip lies flush with and becomes adhered to the back page of themanuscript. With the parts in the FIG. 8 position section 16 of thestrip member will be folded back over and lay flush with section 14 ofthe strip to thus completely hide staples 30 from view.

The next step is to remove the covering strip 28 from the face 26 ofsection 20. With the adhesive side 26 thus exposed the one-piece covermember 34 for the manuscript can then be adhered to such adhesive areaas shown in FIG. 8. With the back panel 36 of the cover member thussecured to the assembled binding strip 12 and manuscript 10 the frontcover panel 38 of the cover is then folded in the direction shown by thearrow in FIG. 8 around to the front of the manuscript to complete theassembly thereof.

The finished product is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. It will be noted thatsuch finished product presents a manuscript having a cover whichcompletely covers the bound portion of the manuscript leaving nostaples, rivets, or other fastening means exposed on the exterior of themanuscript.

Furthermore, the manuscript when open as shown in FIG. 10 will exposeonly section 16 of the binding strip. Here again, with the cover open,the staples or other fastening means are completely hidden from view.The result is a manuscript having a very neat and pleasing appearancewith a binding which is not excessively bulky. The resulting manuscriptis, as explained above, bound by using only a single binding strip ofrelatively inexpensive design following only a few easily performedsteps requiring no specialized skill or equipment to perform.

It should be understood that while the binding procedure describedstarted by fastening strip 12 to the front page of manuscript 10 suchstrip could as an alternative be secured to the back page of themanuscript. Such reverse procedure would result in a manuscript whereinthe front cover panel and manuscript pages would be somewhat morediflicult to turn and thus the first described procedure is preferred.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved binding arrangement for a manuscript comprising:

an elongated binding strip member having four adjacent sections runningthe length thereof with a first section fastened to one face of themanuscript, a second section folded back against said first section, athird section lying opposite the edge of the manuscript and having awidth substantially equal to the thickness of the manuscript, and afourth section having one face thereof adhered to the opposite face ofthe manuscript; and

a cover member for said manuscript adhered to the opposite face of saidfourth section of said binding strip member.

2. An improved binding arrangement according to claim 1 in which saidfirst section of said binding strip is attached to said manuscript by aplurality of fastener members which serve to hold the several pages ofthe manuscript together.

3. An improved binding arrangement according to claim 1 in which saidfaces of said fourth section of said binding strip member are providedwith an adhesive material thereon.

4. An improved binding arrangement according to claim 3 in which saidadhesive faces of said fourth section are covered with protectivecovering stripsprior to assembly.

5. An improved binding arrangement for a manuscript comprising:

an elongated binding strip member having a length substantially equal tothe dimension of the manuscript along which the manuscript is to bebound and having a width less than the other dimension of the manuscriptto be bound, said binding strip member having four adjacent sectionsrunning the length thereof with a first section fastened to one face ofthe manuscript, 2. second section connected to said first section. andfolded back against said first section, a third section connected tosaid second section and lying opposite an edge of the manuscript, and afourth section connected to said third section and having one facethereof adhered to the opposite face of the manuscript; and

a cover member for said manuscript adhered to said fourth section ofsaid binding strip member.

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,526,270 10/1950 Phillips28121 3,038,742 6/1962 Leap 28129 3,188,114 6/1965 OBrien et al. 281293,241,863 3/1966 Paddack 281-29 FOREIGN PATENTS 837,813 11/1938 France.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED BINDING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MANUSCRIPT COMPRISING: ANELONGATED BINDING STRIP MEMBER HAVING FOUR ADJACENT SECTIONS RUNNING THELENGTH THEREOF WITH A FIRST SECTION FASTENED TO ONE FACE OF THEMANSCRIPT, A SECOND SECTION FOLDED BACK AGAINST SAID FIRST SECTION, ATHIRD SECTION LYING OPPOSITE THE EDGE OF THE MANUSCRIPT AND HAVING AWIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF THE MANUSCRIPT, AND AFOURTH SECTION HAVING ONE FACE THEREOF ADHERED TO THE OPPOSITE FACE OFTHE MANUSCRIPT; AND A COVER MEMBER FOR SAID MANUSCRIPT ADHERED TO THEOPPOSITE FACE OF SAID FOURTH SECTION OF SAID BINDING STRIP MEMBER.